Lessons from my "Little Ones" revisited

• Bedtime is apparently a relative term.
• Dessert and snack are two different things-though both apparently are supposed to contain sugar.
• Studying flashcards and nightly reading are not homework if they're not on the homework sheet.
• Items placed on the stairs to be put away at the next ascending are invisible.
• Dishes apparently make their own way to counter if you leave them long enough.
• Weather in the 50's means it's time for shorts and flip-flops.
• Playing the wii does not count as TV time.
• You can't be in the fun club if you delegate chores.
• Being too tired absolves you from any responsibility.
• Shopping at Target is supposed to include a trip to the dollar section.
• Bad choices don't count if you're sick.

I'm sorry...do I look stupid...

OCD!!!

OK-So as if I don't have enough to be complusive about, I have joined facebook. That was a mistake. I now have a blog and a facebook to maintain. There are not enough hours in the day for work, home, swimming, baseball, blogging, projects and now facebook.

Paul joined too...Of course the race is on...who can get the most friends...come on girls...be my friend...pretty please with sugar on top...No Ann and Balbi you can't ask to be Paul's friend it won't be fair! ;)

PRICELESS

ER trip to the vet-$1001 dollars
Refund for not doing all they planned-$404
Honest vet-priceless.

Surgery for little fluff ball-$1300
Sympathy discount-$239
Compassionate family Vet-priceless.

Flooded basement on New Year's Day-$600
Compassionate Friend who does it for free-priceless.

And that's just the beginning.

All I can say is De Ja Vue 2008-I ask you to kindly refer to 2009 as 2010 in the presence of our family.

My Christmas Solutions

I would love to say that at Christmas time, I put aside my need to have everything just so.

I would love to say that I embrace the traditional colors of red and green.

I would love to say that decorating is a family affair in which I have photos that chronicle the growth of my children based on where the ornaments are hung.

I don't...

My solution....
Maddy's Tree
Hunter's Tree
Mommy's Tree

One word for ya-Salmonella

I'm flattered that y'all have missed me.

I am back with a vengeance-OK not really but I am so glad to be better that I plan on blogging like a crazy person.

I will spare you the details, but my friends there is only ONE way to determine if one has Salmonella. Let me assure you it AIN'T pretty.

On an up note I lost 7 pounds right before Thanksgiving. However, I assure you that it will not remain off for long.

I will NEVER EVER eat a fast food salad again. It doesn't pay. I was trying to be healthy with my choices and look where it got me. On second thought don't look. Don't even think about it.

The human body is an interesting thing. Let me assure you, I mean interesting in the worst possible way.

But I can't wait to snuggle up in sweats and get caught up on everyone's blogs!

Finals are upon me and I have students coming out my eyeballs, so my posts may be short and sweet.

But, thanks for missing me!!

I'm Back!

Not really but you have to go to Stephanie's blog. I laughed and had to clap out loud!
Life on Prescott Avenue.

And the Award Goes To...

Eat your heart out PW, Lori of I'm no super mom gave me my very first award. I am honored given that I think her blog and the other blogs I follow are way cooler. But hey I will happily accept and pass on the honor.

Here are rules:

1) List 5 things you love
2) Pass on the Award to 5 fellow bloggers
3) Please link back to my blog

Here are the 5 things that I love:
1) God
2) My family
3) A day to myself here and there
4) Peppermint Mochas
5) The Beach

Check out these 5 blogs...I love em for a variety of reasons...

1) Carrie of the Kerbs Family
2) Ali Home of the Lazy Dog
3) Jenn of the Bankhead Bunch
4) Valinda of the Kennedy Krew
5) Stephanie of Life on Prescott Avenue

And an honorable mention to Paul of heychefpw. What can I say? I love the man, and I think he's a great writer!

Friendly Competition

OK, so it's no secret I am competitive.

Early in our marriage, Paul and I had to set boundaries when it came to playing games with other couples. The need arose, when Paul discovered that he had married Dr. Jekyll and Mrs. Hyde. We were playing an innocent game of pictionary when the realization hit. We, therefore, did not play games together for many, many months.

It saved the marriage I'm sure.

But it begs the question, what is the purpose of playing something if not to win? Another time and another place.

Fast forward to the present. I have been blogging since February. I love it. Given my OCD behavior, it also tends to be addictive. Thus, I have to temper how much time I spend doing it.

Paul, early in my blogging adventure, started a blog of his own. But it sort of fizzled. He started out enthusiastic about developing a "creative chef blog." His goal was to chronicle his adventures in the kitchen, to share cooking tips, and to amuse his readers with his stories. But, as I said, it fizzled a bit. Until recently...

He has started up again. Can I tell you the competitive demon has resurfaced in me. After two weeks of blogging, he has passed me in reader "hits." How do I know? I check the sitemeters of each blog twice a day-of course.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?

SEE! That's why I hate cleaning!!!

We woke up this morning with extra time. Not because of the extra hour of sleep. But, because despite the fact that I was counting the days until we got to "Fall" back, we FORGOT!

So at 7 am when the alarm sounded for church, it was 6 am. BUMMER!! This did however create a calmness about getting ready for church.

It was, however, the calm before the storm. While curling my hair, I hear a ruckus coming from the general direction of Hunter's room.

In the next moment Paul's reflection is staring back at me trying desperately to avoid hysterical laughter. I realize curiosity killed the cat, but I didn't care.

"What is so funny?"

In his best Hunter imitation, he stomps his foot and furiously blurts out, "SEE! THAT'S WHY I HATE CLEANING!"

Knowing my son's personality intimately (given that he is a mini me), I responded with, "What can't he find?"

"His script for the musical." was the reply.

Knowing that in fact the script was NOT missing
but hidden in plain sight
by none other than me
because,
big surprise,
after asking for several days that it be put away
it remained on the island in the kitchen, I marched myself to his room for a "discussion."

"Son, Daddy said you can't find your script because you cleaned."

"Yeah, see I'm sick of cleaning. I CAN NEVER FIND ANYTHING AFTER I CLEAN." (Clearly a conversation for another day and time.)

"Well, actually buddy, your script is in the kitchen by the espresso machine because you didn't put it away when I asked you."

"Let me guess, you were teaching me a lesson."

Oh no you didn't!!! Suffice it to say...the storm had arrived.

Countdown Has Begun

In less than 5 days our BG (Baby girl) will be 11.

Neither Paul nor I know when this happened.

We are pretty sure that yesterday Paul was taking her on daddy dates to the zoo and pretending to be Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid. Maddy would beg him to act out the scene from the movie where Ariel would rescue Eric and then sing the song on the rock. She could play Ariel for hours. Paul loved every minute of it. She will always be his precious BG. And let me tell you. She has him wrapped around her little finger.

Now she wants to go shopping at Justice and hang out with her friends. We are thankful that she will still sneak in our room early in the morning, crawl in bed with us and cuddle. But she is growing bigger wings and trying to fly further from the nest.

Despite the occasional alien behavior, we are so proud of who she is and how she is growing up. She has an amazing heart for people. She puts others first 90% of the time, and she loves Jesus. She tries hard to do what is right. She is an AMAZING big sissy. Hunter has no idea how good he has it.

So, with mixed emotions we are getting ready to celebrate her 11th birthday. She is 2 years away from being an official teen. UGH! But she is growing up as we hoped she would-with a heart of gold.